Kiss the Girls (1997)

Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en ) stars as Detective Alex Cross of the DC Police Department in this crime story involving serial killings on both coasts.

Cross is a combination psychologist/detective who is shown talking a woman down from a murder-suicide situation. He is then apprised that his niece (Gina Ravera) is missing in Research Triangle, NC. Like all good never married guys kicking 60, Freeman as Cross drives a Porsche Carrera, surely a good family-style car that will attract him a worthwhile mate - just kidding.

The NC detectives basically freeze him out, letting him cool his heels in the outer office before he loses his temper and bursts in. He learns that there are eight women missing, including his niece, all were known to be gorgeous, and all were outstanding and independent. Two have recently turned up with their locks shorn, their bodies eaten by wild animals.

In the meantime, Ashley Judd (Heat ), a stupendously smart, talented medical doctor, as well as being knockout gorgeous and independent - anybody detect a trend here? - is kidnapped and we get to experience the serial killer’s MO through her eyes, and he is a sick puppy. Cross, using his superior powers of analysis, deduces the remaining women are alive and being held captive somewhere. “This guy’s a collector…,“ he muses. These thoughts are validated when Ashley Judd escapes and helps lead Cross and the other detectives to the killer’s lair.

Morgan Freeman is usually a treat to watch, almost always playing a character of superior intellect and achievements who has but one pace - leisurely. His greatest role to date was the phenomenal job he did in Se7en, abetted by the estimable Brad Pitt. In Kiss the Girls there is no welcome sidekick to act as foil for Freeman, therefore he is carrying the ball alone - and it shows. Ashley Judd is good, as far as it goes, but just does not have enough ballast to carry the medical doctor/kickboxing artist/overachiever credibly. Maybe she should consider carrying some rocks in her pockets? In her defense, she does do gorgeous well. The supporting cast is just OK, in my book.

The story is from a James Patterson novel that seems pretty good, but the directorial choices of the adaptation are quite pedestrian, telegraphing the future moves of the characters and spoiling some of the surprises that a truly good mystery would spring on the viewer. The mark of true art is to make a common situation interesting and Director Gary Fleder failed to do this on too many occasions. The interactions seem forced and unrealistic, the characters half finished, except for Dr. Alex Cross, who comes out as well-rounded - not surprising, as Freeman has played that same character pretty much his entire professional career.

From the foregoing, you may think I hate Kiss the Girls (maybe it should be “Kiss the Grrls” from all the strong, independent, beautiful, accomplished women it showcases?) - but you would be wrong. I just think that as mysteries go, it comes out as not above average, surely not good enough to be one of Morgan Freeman’s best after his unassailably great performance in Se7en a year or two before.

The Paramount DVD is presented in 2.35:1 theatrical aspect, in color, and runs 111 minutes. While it is watchable and I recommend it to mystery-crime fans, I would much rather recommend the following clearly superior crime thrillers to your attention:

Se7en

Copycat

Silence of the Lambs

Thank you for reading!

Recommended:
No

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good Date Movie